Letter opener



Dec. 18, 1962 Filed Aug. 29, 1961 E. C. CAMPBELL, JR

LETTER OPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Elena-ST CALVIN 'CAMPBELL Jrg.

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Dec. 18, 1962 E, C, CAMPBELL, JR 3,068,569

LETTER OPENER Filed Aug. 29, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 swig. z

INV EN TOR.

ERNEST CALVIN AMprz-LL JQ.

A TTPNEYS United States Patent O 3,668,569 LETIER OPENER Ernest Calvin Campbell. r., New Rochelle, NX. (812 Ramapo Valley Road, Oakland, NJ.) itiied Ang. 29, 19611. Ser. No. 134,758 15.4 Claims. Ci. Tati- 294) This invention relates to letter openers, and more particularly to a holder for the cutting blade for opening of envelopes, whereby the envelope is moved through a groove in the holder against the cutting blade to remove a small part of the edge of an envelope.

Various attempts have been made to provide an envelope opener in which a blade is carried for removing a portion of the envelope so that the letter therein may be removed easily and quickly, but no one has found a satisfactory device, wherein the envelope is urged in contact with the edge of the blade in a manner which will satisfactorily open the envelope after the blade has lost its sharp edge.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a holder or body having a groove longitudinally therein and the groove being wider at the entry end of the envelope and wherein a cutting blade is mounted at an angle across the groove above the bottom of the groove and a resilient roller or bifurcated wheel is mounted at one side of the groove, having its edge extending substantially across the groove to engage the envelope and hold it on both sides of the cutting edge of the blade so that as the envelope tends to ride down the angling slope of the blade into the recess or groove in the Wheel, both the main body of the envelope and the portion to be severed are held under tension so that the envelope is literally forced to tear across the sharp edge of the blade, thus even as the blade tends to become dull, there will continue to be a positive cutting action. The forward motion of the main body of the envelope forces the wheel to turn on both sides of the cutting edge, thus automatically feeding the severed portion out the discard recess in the main body of the opener.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a body for the blade having a groove extending longitudinally thereof, the body having a cut-out or recess portion for the blade extending at an angle across the groove; to provide a block having hinged side members for folding over the main body of the block to cover the blade and other parts, the body having upstanding lugs and the hinged members having sockets engaging over the lugs, including the upstanding lugs which are engaged by the blade so that the blade Will be completely covered when in use and the hinged members holding the blade in place on the body; to provide mating edges of the hinged members with flexible means for engaging each other to hold the same in closed position, and to provide a device of this character in which thel blade is removable and replaceable.

Other objects of the invention are to provide-the roller with a central recessed portion having outer lips for engaging the paper, one of the lips engaging under the blade and the other on top of the blade; to provide the roller of resilient material which will flatten slightly against the side edge of the groove and even more as the envelope moves between the roller and the blade; to provide a recess in the block in which the hub of the roller is engaged for holding the. same in place; to provide the underside of one of the lids with a recess for engaging over the roller and having a hollow boss in the recess for receiving the other end of the hub of the roller to hold the roller in place when the lid is folded over the body, and to provide an end edge of the body with spaced cut-out portions for easy opening of the hinged or cover portion of the holder.

Still further objects of the present invention are to provide the holder for a blade for opening an envelope ICC wherein the body is provided with a longitudinal groove having a blade extending across the groove at an angle; to provide one side edge of the groove with a beveled portion .extending under the edge of the blade; to provide the enlarged portion of the groove With a spring member for contacting the side of the envelope and urging it against the side of the groove having the beveled portion as it contacts the blade, the spring contacting the envelope just before it engages the blade and also extending under the blade so that it will contact the envelope as it passes past the cutting edge of the blade, thus guaranteeing a positive cutting action even as the blade tends to become dull.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide a body or holder for a cutting blade for opening envelopes wherein the roller is mounted in the main body so that the periphery ythereof extends to substantially even With the one side edge of the groove in the body and wherein a spring member is mounted on the other side edge of the groove to urge the envelope into contact with the roller and hold it against the roller as the roller rotates and the envelope moves into contact with the blade for opening the same.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide a roller on one side of the groove in the main body of the holder and to provide a roller on the opposite side of the groove on the main body which has a portion on each side of one end of the blade whereby the rollers will engage each other at substantially the center of the groove in the body and whereby the envelope may be moved between the rollers so that the rollers will hold the envelope rigid as it passes in contact with the blade.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FiG. l is a perspective view of my envelope opener showing a fragmentary portion of the envelope moving through the Igroove therein to remove a section of the lower edge thereof as it passes across the blade.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the holder with the cover in partly open position to illustrate the position of the roller and blade.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through the blade and roller showing position and movement with respect to the roller and cutting blade.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view particularly illustrating the body and the blade.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view particularly illustrating the split roller with relation to the blade and the iiattened side of the roller in normal position against the side of the groove.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention particularly illustrating the cutting blade and two-roller arrangement.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the roller arrangement.

FIG. `8 is a perspective View of a further modified form of the invention illustrating the blade and spring for holding the envelope in contact with the blade.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view particularly illustrating the beveled portion of the groove.

FIG. l0 is a further modified form of the invention particularly illustrating a rigid roller and spring arrangement for holding the envelope while passing the blade.

FIG. l1 is an enlargedcross-sectional view particular ly illustrating the roller and spring arrangement.

1 designates an envelope opener embodying the features of myinvention comprising a body member 2 having a top side 3 and a longitudinal groove 4 through the center thereof. The groove is widened at substan- 3 tially the longitudinal center of the body as indica-ted at 5 having an angled or sloping portion 6 for providing easy access of an envelope 7 having a lower edge 8 which enters the groove 4.

The top face 3 of the body is provided with a recessed portion 9 which extends at an angle across the groove 4, as illustrated in FiG. 2. Mounted in the Y recessed portion are opstanding lugs 1o and 11 for engaging in openings 12 and 13 of a blade 14 and having a cutting edge 15. The blade may -be of the ordinary Schick injector type or any other similar` Vblade having a beveled cutting edge', as indicated at 15.

One side of the top 3 of the body 2, as shown in FiG. 4, is provided with a recessed portion 16 which intersects the groove 4 for mounting of a roller 17. The recess 16 has a socket portion 18 for a hub 1% on the lower side of the roller 'to hold the roller in place in the recess and allowing .it to rotate. As shown in FIGS. 2,- and 4, the roller is a bifurcated or grooved roller so that the blade 14 will engage in the groove 29 thereof. In other Words, a part of the roller engages under and a part over .the cutting edge of the blade as shown in dotted lines in FIG 2, and the periphery 21 of the roller extends slightly beyond the side edge 22 of the groove 4. The roller is of resilient material so that it engages the side 22 of the groove and iiattens slightly as shown at 22 (FIG. 5). TheV leading edge 23 of the envelope engages the periphery 21 of the wheel 17 as it moves through the slot 4 and the roller will further recede sutliciently as shown in FIG. 3 for the envelope to pass through the groove and strike the blade at an angle to sever the same. The spaced portions of the peripheries of the roller provided by the groove 2t) contacting the paper on each side of the cutting edge of the blade actually places the paper of the envelope under tension so as to provide an easier cut even when the blade has become dull by usage.

The holder Vincludes cover members 24 and 25 hingedly connected to the main body 2, as indicated at 26 and 27. The edge 30 of the cover 2.4 is cut-away, as indicated at 31, to conform to the contour of the edge 6 of `the groove in the body 2, as illustrated in FlG. 2. The underneath side 32 of the cover is provided with a recessed portion 33 having a hollow boss 34 for receiv- .ing the hub 35 of the roller 17 and also the recess 33 receiving the top portion of the roller 17 so that the lid will close smoothly over :the portion of the body carrying the roller 17.

The body 2 is provided with upstanding lugs 36 and 37 for engaging in recesses or sockets 33 and 39 near the ends of the body and covers respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 2. An Upstanding lug 49 is provided in the opposite end of the body which engages in a socket 41 in the cover 25. The cover portions 24 and 25 are provided with recesses 42 and 43 having sockets 44 and 45 therein which when the covers are folded over will engage the lugs 1t) and 11 which mount the blade 14 on the body and the recesses 42 and 43 will engage the blade to hold the blade rigidly in place. The lugs and recesses just above referred to will frictionally hold the cover closed over the body 2.V A lug 46 is provided along one edge at about the center of the body carrying the wheel 17 and engages in a. recess 47 on the cover member 24 slightly deeper than the lug 46 so that when the covers areA Venclosed there will be a smooth bottom and topV surface of the holder and all the parts will be enclosed and the blade covered so that there is no danger of injury'to the user.

When the envelope 7 is moved on its edge 3 along the groove 4 by hand, the leading edge 23 contacts the cutting edge 15 of the blade V14 and a thin strip 4S is severed therefrom as shown in dotted lines in FIG. l. The periphery of @the roller 17 is knurled, as indicated at 49, and has two portions, one on each side of the blade, said knurled portions being adapted to contact the envelope to exert a tension thereon as it moves into the blade edge due to the force exerted on the envelope by the blade edge, the periphery of the roller flattening against the edge 22 of the groove 4, the iiattened portion gripping the envelope as it contacts the blade.

The end a of the body 2 is provided with iin'ger inserting portions b and c for easy opening of the cover members 24 and 25.

Referring to the form of invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, 50 designates the main body portion having a groove 51 longitudinally thereof having a straight side 52 and the other lside cut-away, as .indicated at 53. Cover members 54 and 55 are provided, the member 54 having a straight outer edge 56 land the cover member 55 having a cut-away portion 57 conforming with the cut-away portion 53 of the body. The covers are hinged to the body as in the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. The body 50 is recessed, as indicated at 5S, for receiving a resilient grooved roller 59 which is of the saine construction as the roller 17 shown in FIG. 2, but is set so that the periphery 60 thereof is slightly beyond the edge 52 `of the groove and straddles the blade 14 which extends across ithe groove at an angle and has a cutting edge as illustrated in FIG. 2. The cover 54 has a recess 6.1 having a hollow boss 62 for receiving the hub 63 of -the roller S9 when the cover is closed. The side of the body opposite the groove S1 is lalso recessed, as indicated at 64, having a socket for receiving the hub 66 of a wheel or rotating member `67 having its periphery 68 extending into the groove S1, as illustrated in FIG. 6, `underneath the blade 14. The outer edge of the cover 55 is provided with a recess 69 for receiving the hub 70 of a Wheel 71 having a periphery 72 extending over the edge ot the groove 51. The recess 69 has a socket 69' for a hub 70. The 'socket 69' is vfur-ther recessed, as indicat-ed at 72, and the hub is slightly flared, -as indicated at 73, and being lresilient will engage in a socket and re-` tain the wheel in the recess when the cover member is being closed.

The spaced peripheries of the roller 59 are engaged by the peripheries of the wheels 67 and 71 so that when they contact they are slightly ii-attened at 73'.

With this form of the invention, the lower edge of the envelope is moved through the recess 51 and the wheels 67 and 71 will rotate when the envelope is pushed therein to move the envelope against the resilient periphery 69 of the rolle-r 59 to carry the envelope into the edge 15 of the blade. The lower edge of the envelope is severed, as indicated at 48, (FIG. 1) approximately of an inch being taken oi the edge of the envelope so that the enclosures may be easily removed therefrom. Upstanding lugs 75 and 76 are provided on the edge of the body and rest .in recesses 77 and 78 in one end of the cover members 54 and 55. A lug 79 is provided on the other end of the body 50 and a recess 80 on the cover receives said lug when the cover is closed. It will be obvious the portion of the wheel 71 lies on top of lthe blade 14 when the cover is closed and Will hold the same in place.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, there is illustrated a further modied form of the invention wherein the body 81 has a longitudinal groove 82 with la straight edge 83 and the opposite edge cu-t away, as indicated at 84, and mounted therein is a leaf spring 8S having an arc portion 36 extending toward the edge 83. The edge 83 has a beveled portion 87 under the blade 14 mounted on the opstanding lugs 12 `and 13 extending across the groove 82 as shown in FIG. 8. As the body is provided with lugs and recesses substantially the same as shown in FIG. 2, they are given like numbers. This form of the holder has cover members 88 and S9 hingedly connected to the body 81. The cover member 89 has a curved edge 89 provided with a leaf spring 9d which will engage against the edge 90 of the cover member 88. The edge 9G of the cover member 88 has a beveled portion 87' conforming to the beveled portion S7 in the side edge 83 ofthe groove 82.

In this `form of the invention, `the envelope is moved l'through the groove S2 from the widened portion thereof and engages against the springs 35 and 90 which, being resilient, will move the envelope against the side edge 83` of the groove 82 and :against the side 90' of the cover member 88 and engage the edge 15 of the blade 1d. As the envelope rapproaches the blade, the springs 85 and 90 will hold ythe paper under tension as the paper engages the blade edge. The beveled portions 87 and 87 allow the paper to bend thereinto sniciently to provide a slicing action by the blade to read-ily sever the edge of the envelope.

In FIGS. y and 11, I have shown a further modified form of invention wherein the body 91 has a longitudinal groove 91' cut away or enlarged 4as indicated at 92 and .the opposite side having la straight edge 93. Mounted in the edge 94 of the cut away side is a flat spring 95 arced as indicated at 96 which extends underneath the blade 14. The body 91 is recessed, as indicated at 97 (FIG. 11), for mounting a wheel or roller 93 having a grooved portion 99 with outwardly extending hubs 100 and 101. rThe hub 100 extends in a socket 102 in the body 91 and the blade edge extends into the groove 99 of the wheel. This wheel may extend slightly into the groove 91' but at least even with the edge 93 thereof. The body has hinged cover members 103 and 104 and the cover member 103 is recessed, as indicated at 195, having a hollow -hub 196 for engaging over the hub 101 of thewheel 98 when the cover is closed to retain the Wheel in place. rhe body and covers are provided with lugs and recesses, the same as shown in FIG. 2, and are given like numbers. The edge 1617 of lthe cover member 104 is provided with a at spring 108 arced as at 109 lto engage the periphery of the roller 98 above the blade -to hold the paper under tension as the envelope contacts the blade 14 and is severed thereby.

In this form of `the invention, the envelope entering into the wider portion of the groove 91 will engage against the `spring 95 which will move it into contact with the wheel to cause it to move into the blade with a slicing action and remove the bottom portion of the envelope therefrom.

The lug is `short to permit easy `closing and opening of the cover members 24, S4, 3S and 193.

The body of the holder may be made of polypropylene or other suitable plastic with a built-in hinge or separate hinges may be provided. The body may be made of paper, pressed to form a rigid body, or other material, and the wheels may also be made of plastic and the split wheels are substantially resilient, except in `iGS. lG and ll wherein they may be substantiaily rigid to accomplish the intended purpose.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that I have provided an improved letter opener, wherein the edges of an envelope may be removed from the envelope to provide easy access to the interior thereof.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the speciic form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in `the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An envelope opener comprising, a body having a top side provided with a groove having a bottom longitudinally thereof, said top of the body being recessed at an angle across said groove, a blade in said recess, means retaining said blade in said recess, said blade having a cutting edge spaced above the bottom of said groove and facing toward the envelope as it passes through said groove, means carried by said body on one side of said groove for engaging said envelope against said cuttingv edge at an angle in a slicing movement, cover members hingedly secured to said body for folding over the top of said body and means on the top of the body and said cover members for holding said cover members and blade 6 in place on said body whereby when the envelope is moved along said groove toward said blade and said firstnamed means will cause the same to move into said blade and sever a strip from said envelope.

2. An envelope opener comprising, a body having a top side provided with a groove having a bottom longitudinally thereof, said top of the body being recessed at an angle across said groove, opstanding lugs in said recess on each side of said groove, a blade in said recess and having spaced openings engaging over said lugs, said blade having a cutting edge spaced above the bottom of said groove and facing toward the envelope as it passesV through said groove, means carried by said body on one side of said groove for engaging said envelope as it is passed through the groove and to move said envelope against said cutting edge at an angle in a slicing movement, cover members hingedly secured to said body for folding over the top of said body and means on the top of the body and said cover members for holding said cover members and blade in place on said body whereby when the envelope is moved along said groove toward said blade and said first-named means will cause the same to move into said blade and sever a strip from said envelope.

3. An envelope opener comprising, a body having a top side provided with a groove having a bottom longitudinally thereof, said top of the body being recessed at an angle across said groove, upstanding lugs in said recess on each side of said groove, a blade in said recess and having spaced openings engaging over said lugs, said blade having a cutting edge spaced above the bottom of said groove, said body having a substantially cylindrical recess in the top thereof intersecting said groove, a wheel mounted in said last-named recess, said wheel having a circumferential groove in which the kcutting edge of said blade extends, cover members hingedly secured to said body for folding over the top of said body, one of said cover members having a recess, means in said last-named recess engaging said wheel for retaining same in said body, and means on the top of the body and said cover members for holding said cover member and blade in place on said body whereby when the envelope is moved along said groove toward said blade said wheel will cause the same to move into said blade and sever a strip from said envelope.

4. An envelope opener comprising, a body having a top side provided with a groove having a bottom longitudinally thereof, said top of the body being recessed at an angle across said groove, opstanding lugs in said recess on each side of said groove, a blade in said recess and having spaced openings engaging over said lugs, said blade having a cutting edge spaced above the bottom of said groove, said body having a substantially cylindrical recess in the top thereof intersecting said groove, a wheel mounted in said last-named recess, said wheel having a circumferential groove in which the cutting edge of said blade extends, means in said groove permitting movement of the envelope by said wheel against said cutting edge in a slicing motion, cover members hingedly secured to said body for folding over the top of said body, one of said cover members having a recess, means in said last-named recess engaging said wheel for retaining same in said body, and means on the top of the body and said cover members for holding said cover member and blade in pla-ce on said body whereby when the envelope is moved along said groove toward said blade said Wheel will cause the same to move into said blade and sever a strip from said envelope.

5. An envelope opener comprising, a body having a top side provided with a groove having a bottom longitudinally thereof, said groove being widened at one end of the body, said top of the body being recessed at an angle across said groove, upstanding lugs in said recess on each side of said groove, a blade in said recess and having spaced openings engaging over said lugs, said aoeasee blade having a cutting edge spaced from the bottom of said groove, and outwardly the widened end of said groove, said body having a substantially cylindrical recess in the top thereof intersecting said groove at the beginning of said widened portion of the groove, a wheel mounted in said last-named recess, said Wheel having a circumferential groove in .vhichthe cutting edge of said blade extends a portion of the periphery of said wheel engaging against the side edge of said groove, cover members hingedly secured to said body for folding over the top of said body, one of said cover members having a recess, means in said last-named recess engaging said wheel for retaining same in said body, a portion of the periphery of the Wheel engaging against the edge or" one of the cover members and means on the top of the body and said cover members for holding said cover member and blade in place on said body whereby when the envelope is moved along said groove toward said blade said Wheel Will cause the same to move into said blade and sever a strip from said envelope.

6. An envelope opener comprising, a body having a top side provided with a groove having a bottom longitudinally thereof, said top of the body being recessed at an `angle across said groove, opstanding lugs 4in said recess on each side of said grove, a blade in said recess and having spaced openings engaging over said lugs, said blade having a cutting edge spaced above the bottom of said groove, said body having a substantially cylindrical recess in the top thereof intersecting said groove, a Wheel mounted in said last-named recess, said wheel having a circumferential groove in which the cutting edge of said blade extends, cover members hingedly secured to said body for folding over the top of said body, one of said cover members having a recess, means in said last-named recess engaging said wheel for retaining same in said body, means on the top of the body and said cover members for holding said cover members and blade in place on said body and holding the cover member in closed position whereby when the envelope is moved along said groove toward said blade said wheel will place a tension on said envelope to ycause the same to move into said blade and sever a strip from said envelope.

7. An envelope opener comprising, a body having a top side provided with a groove having a bottom longitudinally thereof, said top of the body being recessed at i an angle across said groove, a blade in said recess, means mounting the blade in said recess, said blade having a cutting edge spaced above the bottom of said groove, said body having a substantially cylindrical recess in the top thereof intersecting said groove, a wheel mounted in said last-named recess, said wheel having a` circumferential groove in which the cutting edge of said blade extends, cover members hingedly secured to said body for folding over the top of said body, one of said cover members having a recess, means in said last-named recess engaging said Wheel for retaining same in said body, means on the top of the body and said cover member for holding said cover members and blade in place on said body, spring means secured to the side edge of said groove for engaging said envelope whereby when the envelope is moved along said groove toward said blade said wheel will cause the same to move into said blade in a slicing movement and sever a strip from said envelope.

8. An envelope opener comprising, a body having a top side provided with a groove having a bottom longitudinally thereof, said top of the body being recessed an angle Of approximately 45 across said groove, a blade in said recess, means retaining said blade in said recess, said blade having abutting edge spaced above the bottom of said groove and facing toward the envelope as it passes through said groove, means carried by said body on one side of said groove for engaging said envelope as it is passed through the groove and to exert a tension on said envelope to move said envelope against said cutting edge at an angle in a slicing movement, and coverrmembers hingedly secured to said body for folding over lthe top of said body whereby when the envelope is moved along said groove toward said blade and said first-named means will cause the same to move into said blade and sever a strip from Vsaid envelope.

9. A paper envelope opener comprising, a body having a rop side provided with a groove having a bottom longitudinally thereof, said top of the body being recessed at an angle of approximately 45 across said groove, upstanding lugs in said recess on each side of said groove, a blade in said recess and having spaced openings engaging over said lugs, said blade having a cutting edge spaced above the bottom of said groove and facing toward the envelope as it passes through said groove, means carried by said body on one side of said groove for engaging said envelope as it is passed through the groove and to move said envelope against said cutting edge at an angle in a slicing movement, cover members hingedly secured to said body for folding over the top of said body, and means on the top of the body and said cover members for holding said cover members and blade in place on said body whereby When the envelope is moved along said groove toward said blade and said first-named means will create a tension on said paper and cause the same to move into said blade under tension and sever a strip from said envelope.

10.- A paper envelope opener comprising, a body having a top side provided with a grooveV having a bottom longitudinally thereof, said top of the body being recessed at an angle across said groove, opstanding lugs in said recess on each side of said groove, a blade in said recess and having spaced openings engaging over said lugs, said blade having a cutting edge spaced above the bottom of said groove, said body having a substantially cylindrical recess in the top thereof intersecting said groove, a wheel mounted in said last-named recess, said Wheel having a circumferential groove in which the cutting edge of said blade extends, the edge of said groove opposite said wheel being beveled under said blade, the said groove forming spaced peripheral faces on said wheel and said faces being roughened, cover members hingedly secured to said body for folding over the top of said body, one of said cover members having a recess, means in said last-named recess engaging said wheel for retaining same in said body, and means on the top of the body and said cover members for holding said cover member and blade in place on said body whereby when the envelope is moved along said groove toward said blade said peripheral faces of the wheel ywill create a tension on said paper as it is pushed toward said beveled edge of the groove and cause the same to move into said blade and sever a strip from said envelope.

ll. An envelope opener comprising, a body having a top side provided with a groove having a bottom longitudinally thereof, said top of the body being recessed at an angle across said groove, opstanding lugs in said recess on each side of said groove, a blade in said recess and having spaced openings engaging over said lugs, said blade having a cutting edge spaced above the bottom of said groove, a flat spring mounted in one side edge of said groove under said blade having a bowed portion, the side edge of said groove opposite said spring having a beveled portion Iunder said blade, cover members hingedly secured to said body for folding over the top of said body, and a at spring secured to the outside edge of the cover member secured to the side of the body carrying the first spring for engaging the envelopes and urge it against the outer edge of the other cover member when folded above the blade whereby when the envelope is moved along said groove toward said blade said springs will cause the same to move into said blade and place a tension on the envelope as it moves into said beveled portion to sever a strip from said envelope.

l2. An envelope opener comprising, a body having a top side provided with a groove having a bottom longitudinally thereof, said top of the body being recessed at an angle across said groove, upstanding lugs in said recess on each side of said groove, a blade in said recess and having spaced openings engaging over said lugs, said blade having a cutting edge spaced above the bottom of said groove, a ilat spring mounted in one side edge of said groove under said blade having a bowed por- Ition, the side edge of said groove opposite said spring having a beveled portion under said blade, cover members hingedly secured to said body for folding over the top of said body, and a flat spring secured to the outside edge of the cover member secured to the side of the body carrying the first spring for engaging the envelope 'and urge it against the outer edge of the other cover member when folded above the blade, and means on the top of the body and said cover members for holding said cover member and blade in place on said body whereby when the envelope is moved along said groove toward said blade said springs will cause the same to move into said blade and place a tension on the envelope as it moves into said beveled portion to sever a strip from said envelope.

13. An envelope opener comprising, a body having a top side provided with a groove having a bottom longitudinally thereof, said top of the body being recessed at an angle across said groove, upstanding lugs in said recess on each side of said groove, a blade in said recess and having spaced openings engaging over said lugs, said blade having `a cutting edge spaced above the bottom of said groove, said body having a substantially cylindrical recess in the top thereof on one side of and intersecting said groove,a wheel mounted in said lastnamed recess, said wheel having a circumferential groove in which the cutting edge of said blade extends, a cylindrical recess in the other side of said body, a roller mounted in said recess under said blade, cover members hingedly secured to said body for folding over the ltop of said body, one of said cover members having a recess, means in said last-named recess engaging said wheel for retaining same in said body, a recess in the other cover member, a second roller, means mounting the roller in said last-named recess, said second roller engaging on top of the blade so that the periphery thereof Will align with the periphery of the first roller, Whereby when the envelope is moved along said groove toward said blade said rollers will contact the envelope and urge it in contact with said wheel and cause the same to move into said blade in a slicing movement and sever a strip from said envelope.

14. An envelope opener comprising, a body having a top side provided with a groove having a bottom longitudinally thereof, said ltop of the body being recessed at an angle across said groove, upstanding lugs in said recess on each side of said groove, a blade in said recess and having spaced openings engaging over said lugs, said blade having a cutting edge spaced above the bottom of said groove, said body having a substantially cylindrical recess in the top Ithereof on one side of and intersecting said groove, a wheel mounted in said lastnamed recess, said wheel having a circumferential groove in which the cutting edge of said blade extends, a cylindrical recess in the other side of said body, a roller mounted in said recess under said blade, cover members hingedly secured to said body for folding over the top of said body, one of said cover members having a recess, means in said last-named recess engaging said Wheel for retaining same in said body, means on the top of the body and said cover members for holding said cover members and blade in place on said body, va recess in the other cover member, a second roller, means mounting the roller in said last-named recess, said second roller engaging on top of the blade so that the periphery thereof Will align with the periphery of the first roller, whereby the envelope is moved along said groove toward said blade said rollers will contact the envelope and urge it in contact with said wheel and cause the same to move into said blade in a slicing movement and sever a strip from said envelope.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,740,018 Jensen Dec. 17, 1929 2,187,634 Soderlind Ian. 16, 1940 2,204,763 Maximilian June 18, 1940 2,291,294 Holste Iuly 28, 1942 

